Facing eviction in April, tenants in a Port Chester affordable housing complex negotiate a deal with the developer that will help them find new housing.

PORT CHESTER - Tenants being evicted from an affordable housing complex in the village reached an agreement with the property owner that gives them until the summer to find new homes, with help from a non-profit advocacy group.

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Audrey Moore has lived in her apartment at 999 High St. in Port Chester for 17 years.(Photo: Seth Harrison/The Journal News)

Most of the 135 apartments in the complex are already vacant. The deal, negotiated by the non-profit organization Westchester United and state housing officials, gives the remaining residents time to find new homes. Westchester United is a network of religious institutions and community organizations that advocate for social change.

“I don’t think we walked into these negotiations in a warm and cordial setting,” said Adam Barbanel-Fried, lead organizer of Westchester United. “People were facing evictions with nowhere to go, so there was a lot of tension… we’re in a better place now.”

Tenants now have until the start of July to relocate and will receive help from the nonprofit to find new homes. Other details of the agreement include:

The issuance of federal housing subsidy vouchers, known as Section 8 vouchers, for 23 eligible families. They’ll also receive additional rental assistance from Starwood for 12 months, depending on what their current rent is.

Families who do not qualify for Section 8 assistance will receive a cash incentive from Starwood to move out by Jan. 31. The amount will depend on how much rent they pay.

Each of the tenant families will receive $3,000 from Starwood to cover moving costs.

Starwood will cover 24 months’ worth of rent for families that don’t qualify for Section 8 subsidies, which are based on economic need.

Tom Corsillo, a spokesperson for Starwood, had no comment.

While the agreement is a win for the tenants, they say finding new homes will be daunting.

“For us, it’s always been about finding a place to live, and that’s extremely difficult,” said Audrey Moore, leader of the 999 High Street Tenants Association. “Housing for low- and moderate-income families is not easy to find. But we’re trying not to be discouraged.”

Barbanel-Fried said although many of the tenants have lived in Port Chester their whole lives, and want to remain there, a lack of affordable housing in the village will force them to look elsewhere.

“We are relieved that tenants have until July to move,” Barbanel-Fried said. “This way, they have a moment to check a place out, rather than feeling like they're signing a lease in a place they don't know, under duress."

Starwood bought the High Street property for $28 million at a 2006 bankruptcy auction.

The firm plans to construct apartments, a hotel, restaurants, shops and office space on the 15-acre site near Interstate 287. Starwood said 500 apartments would be marketed toward millennials, while another 230 would be age-restricted and open only to tenants 55 years old or older.

Port Chester’s review of the project, which will require a zoning change, is expected to extend into 2016.